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Cinnabar Green
#4B7A4A · click to copy
Cool
HEX
#4B7A4A
RGB
75, 122, 74
CMYK
39%, 0%, 39%, 52%
Pigment
PG17, PY42
Lightfastness
Excellent (I)
Pigment & Material
PG17, PY42
Synthetic
Historical mixture of Prussian blue and orpiment (arsenic trisulfide). The arsenic content made it toxic. Largely replaced by viridian in the 19th century.
Origin & History
The term "cinnabar green" in historical pigment literature refers to various opaque green mixtures, often including chromium oxide. The confusion with cinnabar (mercury sulfide red) reflects the historical practice of naming pigments inconsistently across languages and periods.
Also Known As
Chrome Oxide Green
Opaque Green
Bohemian Green
Psychology
Solid, opaque, and earthy. Cinnabar green is a working green — it lacks the transparency of viridian and the vibrancy of phthalo green, but its opacity and earth-tone warmth make it ideal for representing the muted greens of dry landscapes, military subjects, and autumnal foliage.
In Culture
Chromium oxide green (the basis of cinnabar green) is one of the most lightfast and chemically stable pigments known — it is used in permanent outdoor paint systems, camouflage coatings, and architectural finishes precisely because of its durability.
Natural Sources
Chromium oxide green (Cr₂O₃) — occurs naturally as the mineral eskolaite, but is primarily produced synthetically by reducing sodium dichromate. The specific "cinnabar green" name in historic pigment literature sometimes refers to this opaque chromium oxide mixed with yellow.
Making It Yourself
Mix chromium oxide green (PG17) with yellow ochre (PY43) — produces a warm, opaque olive-green.
For cooler cinnabar green: less yellow.
For warmer: more yellow ochre or raw sienna.
Chromium oxide green itself is useful as a non-toxic opaque earth green.
For cooler cinnabar green: less yellow.
For warmer: more yellow ochre or raw sienna.
Chromium oxide green itself is useful as a non-toxic opaque earth green.
Art Movements
Academic Painting
Military Landscape Painting
Contemporary Realism
Famous Works
Military landscape paintings
19th century
Academic landscape painting broadly
Contemporary realist landscape work
Available As
Winsor & Newton — Chromium Oxide Green (PG17)
Daniel Smith — Chromium Oxide Green (PG17)
Golden — Chromium Oxide Green
Sennelier — Cinnabar Green (mixed)
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Colour data compiled with AI. Spot an error or have more to add? Leave a Note — ekphra reviews and updates.
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